EMMA-JAYNE WILSON was one of the first jockeys at Woodbine to use the new cushion crop…
Dave Landry photo
URGING RULES TAKE EFFECT TODAY AT FORT ERIE
tomorrow at Woodbine
TORONTO STAR reports on the new crops, urging rules…
A gentler, kinder horse whip … but it still hurts
We’ve all seen the image: horses thundering down the stretch, the jockeys urging their steeds to the finish line with repeated – and, some say, vicious – whacks of the whip.
It’s a sight that will appear at least a little less cruel beginning this week at Woodbine Racetrack.
Aiming to improve horse safety and attract new fans by cleaning up thoroughbred racing’s image, the Ontario Racing Commission has brought in a new “urging rules initiative.”
http://www.thestar.com/sports/horseracing/article/689156
CAUSING WAVES FOR THE WOOBINE MILE
Nominations for Mile close tomorrow night!
JUNGLE WAVE (PHOTO BY NORM FILES)
The Hold That Tiger 4yo stamped himself a strong contender for the Sept. 20 WOODBINE MILE when he put up a 101 Beyer Figure in his win in the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes on Saturday over the Woodbine turf that was a bit on the squishy side.
And while the gelding, claimed a few starts ago for $62,500 by the shrewd and lucky combo of the Tucci family and Sid Attard, may not have been at his best for that win based on the less-than-firm turf and the fact he was too eager to start, he won anyway.
He will stretch out for the Mile on Sept. 20. The Tucci’s and Attard had JUST RUSHING finish 3rd in last year’s Mile.
Running well in the Play the King also was FIELD COMMISSION, who was 2nd and might be good enough to handle the longer distance in the Mile. FIFTEEN LOVE was 3rd and should get better with more distance too.
Still the race is coming oh-so tough – VENTURA, RAHY’S ATTORNEY, FERNELEY and maybe JUSTENUFFHUMOUR or GIO PONTI.
Notes:
FROM DAILY RACING FORM
Woodbine Mile next for Ferneley
Ferneley, winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Del Mar Mile, began his career in Ireland and England before joining trainer Ben Cecil’s stable last summer. Another international trip, this time to Canada, is likely next month.
Cecil has nominated the $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sept. 20 as Ferneley’s next start. He would like to start Ferneley on a less-firm surface than what is typically found in Southern California.
“He doesn’t have the best of feet,” Cecil said. “I think a slightly softer track can help him. He didn’t switch leads [on Saturday].”
Ferneley won his first stakes in the United States in the Del Mar Mile, his 10th stakes appearance in this country.
Ridden by leading rider Joel Rosario, Ferneley rallied wide on the final turn and through the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths over the 4-year-old filly Allicansayis Wow. Lethal Heat, another 4-year-old filly, finished third in the field of eight.
Ferneley ran a mile on turf in 1:33.11.
“I was delighted, but I didn’t realize that fillies ran second and third,” Cecil said. “I don’t know how strong the race was.”
AND IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH…
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Buccellati, who returned injured from the Coronation Cup, is being targeted at the Canadian International.
Andrew Balding is pleased with his star’s recent progress and reports a return to the racetrack to be imminent. “I’m really pleased with him. He was in a bad way after Epsom and has taken a long time to cone right but worked great on Saturday,” Balding told At The Races. “He’ll either run in the Prix Foy at Longchamp of the Arc trial at Newbury and then probably the Canadian International. He seems right back to his best now.
“Phoenix Reach won the race for us and we’ve had luck in Woodbine with other horses too. It’s been a happy hunting ground for us.”
http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/09/08/31/manual_121405.html
JURY IS OUT – but GRAND PRIX WINNER MAY BE HEADED TO WOODBINE
Also on Sunday, Deauville closed its prestigious August meeting as the 3.70-1 British invader Jukebox Jury outgamed Pouvoir Absolu for a nose victory in the $286,000, Group 2 Grand Prix de Deauville. Trained by Mark Johnston and ridden by Royston Ffrench, the 3-year-old son of Montjeu covered the 1 9/16 miles on good ground in 2:49.70, leaving the favored Ideal World, aan Andre Fabre-trained son of Kingmambo and Banks Hill, 2 1/4 lengths behind in fourth.
Jukebox Jury had won the one-mile Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot as a 2-year-old and had scored two back going 1 5/16 miles in the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock. Last time, however, he was a distant fourth in the 1 1/2-mile, Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes. Johnston suggested that the Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct. 17 could be next on the agenda for Jukebox Jury .
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/news/story?id=4432623
WOODBINE SCOREBOARD – TRAINERS
It’s quite competitive in the trainer’s ranks – the Reade Baker barn won 6 of its last 14 starters and Mark Casse, 7 for his last 26.
Mark E. Casse 228 38 41 30 $2,962,708
Sid C. Attard 160 37 23 20 $1,767,306
Steve Asmussen 149 31 24 21 $1,240,105
Robert Tiller 209 29 39 29 $1,353,282
Malcolm Pierce 130 28 17 15 $2,202,026
Reade Baker 189 27 28 31 $1,565,724
Roger Attfield 103 27 15 11 $1,940,926
Terry Jordan 61 26 8 11 $1,004,602
Nich Gonzalez 169 25 19 20 $1,291,685
Scott Fairlie 180 24 26 30 $1,609,479
Josie Carroll 108 23 16 22 $1,512,579
Ian Black 127 16 21 12 $1,445,741
Brian Lynch 66 16 8 8 $816,613
Daniel Vella 114 15 12 18 $900,660
MichaelDe Paulo 108 15 9 14 $823,391
Sam DiPasquale 71 14 11 6 $432,450
WOODBINE SCOREBOARD – JOCKEYS
Patrick Husbands 573 106 103 91 $6,560,095
Chantal Sutherland 553 81 85 85 $4,564,249
James McAleney 365 74 46 56 $3,679,181
Eurico Rosa Da Silva 420 69 69 50 $4,662,285
Emile Ramsammy 467 69 58 54 $3,077,817
Tyler Pizarro 442 63 67 57 $3,347,206
Emma-Jayne Wilson 531 60 81 68 $3,674,388
Todd Kabel 236 41 24 17 $2,032,563
Luis Contreras 193 39 31 26 $1,697,044
Justin Stein 399 38 47 36 $1,783,588
Gerry Olguin 285 23 27 35 $1,323,589
Jono C. Jones 294 22 26 39 $1,879,930
Constant Montpellier 207 21 23 21 $910,820
Robert C. Landry 223 21 20 27 $1,343,025
Richard Dos Ramos 175 20 14 25 $1,062,282
Corey Fraser 202 19 30 19 $1,098,784
Steven R Bahen 280 17 26 26 $863,529
Slade Callaghan 254 17 16 24 $1,188,373
HASTINGS PARK REPORT
A NEW STAR HAS ARRIVED AT HASTINGS RACECOURSE
August 30, 2009
Vancouver, BC (Aug 28/09) – Four lifetime starts, four wins and more than $100,000 in winnings are the latest numbers attached to Huitzilopochtli , {wee-tsee-loh-poch’-tlee}, the amazing 2-year-old B.C. bred making all kinds of noise at Hastings Racecourse.
Obviously in a class by himself, Huitzilopochtli won Friday’s 35th running of the $30,000 New Westminster Stakes by seven and a quarter lengths under leading jockey Fernando Perez. A late scratch left only three horses in the field and Huitzilopochtli, going off at 1-9, paid $2.10 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.
Trained by his owner Juan Olmos, Huitzilopochtli had previously won two stakes: the BC Cup Nursery and River Rock Resort. His next race will probably be in the CTHS Sales stakes on September 13. The race serves as a preview to the CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale on September 15th at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley.
Racing resumes at Hastings next Wednesday night, gearing up for the major September 7 card featuring five stakes races and the possible return of popular Spaghetti Mouse.
EDITOR’S NOTE – In Aztec mythology, Huitzilopochtli, means HUMMINGBIRD ON THE LEFT.
He was a sun god.
The horse has won 4 of 4, totalling about 20 lengths, with his higHest Beyer Figure being a 79. He is b Wandering out of Always a Star by Sunny’s Halo and is from the family of Charlie’s Dewan, the Breeders’ Stakes winner.
BUY A YEARLING!
08/27/09 – CANADIAN YEARLING SALES – SEPTEMBER 08, 2009 – If you are interested in owning a share in a Canadian Bred, Ontario Sired Yearling, this may be the opportunity for you to do so. Trainer Reade Baker will be active at the sale this year looking specificly for Ontario Sired Yearlings. He is interested in retaining 25% share of any purchase he makes. Anyone interested in 25% or more, should contact us to discuss details. The racing program for horses by Ontario Sires is a very lucrative one. With more horses from the US being stabled at Woodbine, the competition has increased in all races with the exception of the ones restricted to horses by Ontario Sires. This is the market we plan to target this year. www.readebaker.com
